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Mothers and Children

Some of my earliest memories are of my mother taking care of me. I can remember everything from her taking my temperature when I was sick to giving me Flintstone vitamins every night (did anyone ever figure out where Betty was?) to making my favorite meal (lasagna!), I always knew that with her there at my side, I would be ok. On the rare occasion that I forgot my lunch at home, I could count on her to be at the school before lunchtime to bring it to me. She wore herself out making sure that my sister and I had everything we needed. Most of my own mothering style, I have learned from my mom. From cuddling up on the couch with my babies and reading a picture book to putting hydrogen peroxide on cuts and boo-boos and blowing on it (cause it burns!)…those are all things I learned to do from my mama.

But what if you, as a mother, wanted to do these things, but couldn’t? What if there were no vitamins each night to give? No medicine when your child was sick? What if there was no lunch at all? What if there were no books to read, and even if there were, no one with the ability to read them? What if there was no peroxide or Band-Aids to put on boo-boos?

Not only are many mothers across the ocean not able to provide the absolute basic needs for their children, but many families in Asia feel forced to actually sell their children in order to feed the rest of their family. When they are sold, these children are introduced into a world that no child should ever have to live in. A world that is completely empty of the gospel of Jesus Christ, a world that is full of evil. While we in America could never imagine the possibility of this, we have to remember that we live in a very different reality from many areas of the world around us.

This is what mothers in Asia and around the world face each and every day. Wanting to provide and care for their children, but falling woefully short due to their circumstances. It’s difficult to hear, and it would be so much easier to just not know about it, but it’s so important for us all to know. Because when we know, we are called to action. When we are called to action, we can accomplish things for the glory of God. And this is why I love Gospel for Asia. Gospel for Asia has a ministry called Bridge of Hope where families in America can sponsor a child each month and that child will have medical care, food, and an education provided for them. What a gift you can give a family. What a difference we can make all the way across the ocean! I can’t think of a better way to minister to a mother than to help her care for her child. This is one way we can take the gospel to the ends of the earth. In the last two years, I have come to realize that it is our duty as Christians to care about the things that God cares about. God cares about those who have no hope. He cares, and since he cares, we should care too.

When you consider this with your family, think about this…nowadays for a family to eat out one time, it’s about $30 or more. If your family skips one restaurant meal a MONTH, you can feed, clothe, provide medical care and an education for a child for an entire 30 days. When I was reading through the book Revolution in World Missions, I was strongly convicted of the amount of money I waste every day on unnecessary items that another family could use just for the absolute bare basics. It really puts things in a different light. Will you pray about supporting a child in Asia? Maybe two children? Will you ask God what you can do? Can you provide the bare basics for a child out of the abundance in which God has blessed you?1 John 3:17 ESV But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?

Click here to visit the Gospel for Asia site and see how you can help!

Click here to receive the free book that changed my view on world missions and my own life!

FOR KIDS: Parents, here is a kid-friendly version of the above story to read to your children to get them involved in World Missions.

How does your mom take care of you? Does she take care of you when you are sick? Does she put a Band-Aid on when you fall down and get a cut? Does she make your favorite meal sometimes? Does she read to you? Moms are so important and so special. But can you imagine a mother who wants to take care of her children but can’t? Can you imagine a mother who wants to cook for her family but has no food? What about a mother who wants to take care of their child when they fall, but they have no Band-Aids? What about a mom who wants to help her child feel better when they are sick, but there is no medicine? What if a mom wanted to read to her children but didn’t know how to read? How do you think that mom would feel? How would that child feel?

In Asia, a country all the way across the world, this is true every day. There are mothers who are not able to care for their children. That would be so hard. Some mothers have to sell their children in order to have food to feed the rest of her family. We can’t imagine that can we? That’s because your mom and dad would never, ever sell you. But we live in a very different country where we have lots more help. In Asia, it happens, and it’s very sad…it’s sad for the child and for the family.

But there is good news…you can help! Yes, you! The Bible says in

1 John 3:17,“ Suppose someone sees a brother or sister in need and is able to help them. And suppose that person doesn’t take pity on these needy people. Then how can the love of God be in that person?”

When we see or hear about someone in need, God wants us to do what we can to help. And a ministry called Gospel for Asia has made a way for us to help! Talk to your mom and dad and pray about what you and your family can do to help these mothers and children in Asia to have hope.

I’m linking up today at one of my favorite places to hang out with my Arkansas blogger friends: